WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2008

XIII ON NBC

NBC has released images from XIII, the four-hour mini-series that will air on Sunday, Feb. 8 and Sunday, Feb. 15.

XIII -- based on the European comics series by Jean Van Hamme and William Vance -- stars Val Kilmer, Stephen Dorff, Stephen McHattie and Jessalyn Gilsig.

Here's how NBC describes the mini-series:

"The adrenaline-charged miniseries begins dramatically as the first female U.S. president is shot dead by a sniper during her Veteran's Day speech. Three months later, a wounded man is found tattered in a forest with no memory of his identity. The only clue is a tattoo on his neck -- "XIII." Could his lightning-fast reflexes and killer instincts betray him as the presidential assassin that the U.S. is desperately searching for? Submerged in a far-reaching conspiracy, which threatens to overthrow the entire government, XIII's identity becomes the key to unraveling a complex and dangerous secret that will shock and excite."

Click on the thumbnails for larger images.

FREE COMIC BOOK DAY GOLD TITLES

The Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) Committee has announced the Gold Sponsors and their comic books for FCBD 2009, which will be held on Saturday, May 2.

The following is a rundown:

* Archie Comics: Archie Presents: The Mighty Archie Art Players

* Boom! Studios: Disney/Pixar¹s Cars

* Bongo Comics: 2009 Free For All

* Dark Horse Comics: Star Wars: Clone Wars

* DC Comics: Blackest Night #0

* IDW Publishing: Transformers Animated/G.I. Joe

* Image Comics: Savage Dragon #148

* Oni Press: Resurrection #0

* Marvel Comics: The Avengers

* Viz Media: Shonen Jump Presents: Ultimo

Click on the thumbnails above for larger images.

Marvel announced that its book will be by Brian Michael Bendis and Jim Cheung. The story ties into Marvel Universe continuity while also providing a jumping on point for new readers. The conclusion leads to "terrifying consequences for the entire Marvel
Universe."

MARVEL LEGENDS: NEMESIS WAVE

Hasbro has released images from its Marvel Legends: Nemesis Build-a-Figure Wave, in Wal-Mart stores this month.

BOOM! STUDIOS ANNOUNCES FARSCAPE LAUNCH

Boom! Studios has announced a Dec. 24 release for Farscape #1.

"We originally solicited this for November, but we pushed back the release because we had to make sure the book was the best product possible for fans awaiting Farscape's return," said Chip Mosher, Boom!'s marketing and sales director. "And let me tell you, it will be worth the wait!"

Farscape #1 is written by television series creator Rockne O'Bannon with script by Keith R.A. DeCandido, interior art by Tommy Patterson and covers by Dennis Calero and Joseph Corroney.

The series will pick up directly where the television mini-series Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars left off.

Debuting on the SciFi Channel in 1998, Farscape follows the adventures of astronaut John Crichton, who has a freak accident during an experimental space mission that catapults him across a thousand galaxies to an alien battlefield. Suddenly, he's trapped among alien creatures wielding deadly technology -- a battle that 20th century sci-fi pop culture never prepared him for. Hunted by a merciless military race, Crichton begins his quest for home from a distant galaxy.

Click on the thumbnails for covers and interior pages from Farscape #1.

FEBRUARY SOLICITATIONS ROUNDUP

For previously posted February solicitations, click on the publishers' names below:

BRIEFLY

* Diamond has released the covers for the January edition of Previews. They feature DC Comics' Batman: Battle for the Cowl, written and drawn by Tony Daniel, and Top Cow Productions' War of the Witchblades, by Ron Marz and Stjepan Sejic.

Battle for the Cowl is a three-issue series that launches on March 24. Nightwing, Jason Todd, Robin and several others believe they are the best hope for Gotham and worthy of claiming the Batman mantle, but only one can be the Caped Crusader.

Click on the thumbnails for larger images.

* Geoff Johns has announced that he is leaving as writer of DC Comics' Justice Society of America. His final issue will be #26.

COMICS CONTINUUM BACK ISSUES

If you missed The Continuum's coverage over the past month, following are links. Click on the date to get the day's full report.